Kody had a really big day. He is so strong to be so little. They told us first thing this morning that they were going to try to take him off ecmo today. The longer that his chest stays open the higher risk of infection. Plus his started bleeding around the chest tubes that connect him to the ecmo machine.

Things went well for the first couple of hours. After the third hour his oxygen levels started dropping. They worked fast to try to get they back up changing the ventilator settings, medicine and various other things. At six pm they decided to put him back on ecmo because his blood pressure starting going back up and his oxygen levels were in the 50's. They told us at first they would connect it through his neck but they connected through his chest again. The ecmo machine actually does the work for the heart and lungs. His heart has been working great thank God! So they have the ecmo machine set right at 300 and below so his heart is still doing the majority of the work. They want him to rest a few days and let his lungs build up more strength. I think they will try again Tue. or Wed. They have been slowly improving over the last couple of days so hopefully in a few days they will be able to do the work on their own.

I have to say that when we left tonight his color looked so much better than what it did when his oxygen levels started dropping. His heart rate was back down to 130 and his blood pressure had came back down too. I know he is a fighter because he has been through so much today. They doctors were all pleased after they hooked back up to the ecmo. I think they were as worried as we were today. At one point I sat and watched three doctors and three nurses around Kody's bed working so hard to get him stable. I can't tell you how thankful I am to have them because they haven't given up and they have worked really hard today trying to figure out the next step. I know God is watching over Kody and the doctors and nurses and our family.

I'm so thankful for everyone that's praying for us. Those prayers have been so comforting and has really been our strength. I've had several different people tell us that their church had special prayer for Kody today. I know God is anwering those prayers because Kody has made it longer today off the ecmo and he was able to go back on with good results. He just isn't ready for a big step yet. I know God has a plan and will take care of everything. So please keep praying for Kody and us and the doctors. They have very few cases like ours and they need knowledge to make the right decisions.

Every day Kody is showing a little more progress. Two a.m. Friday morning they clamped the ecmo machine to see how his heart and lungs were doing. His oxygen levels stayed up for five minutes before they dropped. Then they are trying a different medicine for his lungs after that improvement. Before lunch they tried again and he stayed off for 25 minutes before it started dropping. So now the plan is to increase the ventilator settings and try to bring him off the ecmo machine. They are really wanting to get his chest closed because of the risk of the infection. The doctors are pleased with his heart and working hard on getting his lungs to open up. I'm so thankful for the knowledge the doctors and nurses have to be able to take care of him.

This morning when I went in they showed me the oneise that he had on. The night nurse had given him a bath and put that on him. He's almost three weeks old and that's the first outfit he's had on. Just keep praying that he'll be off everything and we can finally hold him again.

Love all you guys and appreciate everything you've done for us.

One More Day

I know several people are watching for updates. I don't get a chance to post updates every night. Today was a little better they clamped the echo machine to get a trial run to see how things looked. Kody's oxygen levels stayed up for one and half minutes before it started droping and the day before it dropped as soon as they clamped him off. They really think that tomorrow he'll have a better chance coming off the ecmo. They have been talking about closing his chest because the longer that he's open the higher risk of getting an infection. So they have been weighing that out with the other options. If they close his chest before they take him off the ecmo they'll have to move the connection to his neck. Which I really hate to have that happen. So we're praying they'll be able to take him off it tomorrow.

This has been an emotional roller coaster ride. There have been days when we left that we were so down in the dumps. This evening I feel a lot better and I really feel like tomorrow will be a good day. They did reposition him with the ventilator before we left and he looked so much better. The nurse said that his color was improving because his lungs were working more.

I really have to brag on the staff at the hospital. They have really done a great job and Kody has his own nurse around the clock that just takes care of him. Then there is someone that sits and watches the ecmo machine around the clock too. Not to mention the doctors that come in too. They have a pediatric doctor that stays in the PICU at all times too. When they try to bring him off the ecmo there is a room full of staff. They all answer any question we have and if they ask us to sit in the waiting room they always come out to talk to us. So we really don't feel like we are left in the dark.

Today Marc went and got Katie. We haven't seen her since Sunday and really missed her. Plus she helps take our mind off things and pass time by too. I'm so thankful that we have Eugene and Wilma to help take care of her. Plus all the other friends and family that have offered to help out with her. We took her to GattiTown to eat supper and play. It was so nice to see her so happy and excited to play. Hopefully we can be all home together soon.

Please keep us in your prayers. We all are struggling through this together. It's hard seeing your baby so sick and nothing that you can do to help. Katie is having a hard time too. She often cries to see her baby brother. I'll be glad to get this all behind us. I know God answers prayers and he has been our strength to get us this far.

We appreciate every thing that everyone has done for us. I can't express enough how much it means to us. If I don't repsond to your emails or comments doesn't mean that we aren't reading them. By the time we get in it's so late that I don't have time to get everything done. But it's nice to know that everyone is thinking of us. God has blessed us with a wonderful circle of friends and family. I don't know what we would do without you all.